View Point

“[…] The sentiments expressed in such outbursts are not new. They are getting much broader exposure due to the nature of social media that is widely available. Our society cannot continue moving towards that precipice, more dangerous in a time when Covid and increasing economic challenges are pushing us to …

The following column is based on the author’s participation in the online forum by the Trade and Economic Division of the Department of Economics, the University of the West Indies, St Augustine on the topic The Funding of Tertiary Level Education in Trinidad and Tobago: My favourite quote about education …

I remember when Barack Obama won his first term as US president in 2008. Late that night I heard a massive noise of joyful screams and applause from the neighbourhood, the moment his victory was confirmed. At that point, I knew we were in for a rough ride. In the …

“[…] In Trinidad and Tobago, domestic workers include: housekeepers, cooks, cleaners, ironers, gardeners, handymen, watchmen, in private homes. They are hired by companies for their CEOs and others who are in high management positions to provide personal and household duties. Estimates indicate that there are 10,000 domestic workers in T&T. …

“[…] I did not know how to make a facemask, as we had no reason to use it before. So I went to YouTube for guidance on how to construct one. “I tried it for one person; she wanted more. Other people saw it, and they wanted. And before you …

“[…] White supremacist philosophy, then predominant in the society, was reinforced by very visible symbols of wealth, power, science, technology and general achievement, which resulted from centuries of exploitation of the human and physical resources of colonised societies around the world. “[…] The new teachings of the Trinidad and Tobago …

Not for the first time, I wondered last week about the coherence of some of the government’s objectives. I noted that the chairman of the committee on community recovery gave an empathetic update on its work so far, but I wondered again whether that empathy would be shared by those …

“[…] Warmest welcome and congratulations to United States president-elect Joe Biden [and] extend a special accolade to vice president-elect Kamala Harris as we acknowledge her Caribbean roots…” The following is a press statement from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the positions …

“[…] Ownership of our economy was still dominated primarily by foreigners, supported by, a local predominantly white elite. Under NJAC’s leadership, however, people were moving for true independence, which could only be achieved through ownership and control of the economy. “The new slogan was: ‘We do not want crumbs, We …

Words matter. By choosing how we frame and talk about something, we induce others to think about an issue in a specific way. This framing can drastically change someone’s perspective about the issue. To present a public position the speaker carefully chooses the words and concepts to achieve the specific …

I can blame Covid-19 for feeling stuck, but that would not be entirely honest. That feeling of ‘stuck-ness’ has been happening for a while and Covid-19 has only made it more intense.  My observation of Parliament, via the Parliament Channel, often evokes the thought that I have heard this before; …

“[…] by underpaying settlements, insurance companies pressure consumers to use low-cost repair shops, regardless of expertise, tooling, workmanship or repair methods that are compliant with manufacturer warranties. Consumers are incentivised to buy used or substandard parts, which not only puts unsafe cars on the road but also supports car theft …